A S D R U MB E A T N The ASUN Team would like to wish everyone a Happy and prosperous New The American Indian Students United for Nursing Project (ASUN) moved to a new location. The ASUN team had an open house on January 27th. Students and staff to stopped by to see the new office. Staff from the College of Nursing & Health Innovation, AISSS, IHS, NANA members, and students attended the event. ASUN would like to thank all those who attended and donated food for the event. The new ASUN Office location is: Mercado SUITE C205. We are no longer located in C277 (which was through suite C250). We are now down the hall in the former School of Nutrition and Health Promotion Advising Office suite. Please feel free to drop by and see the new office. Inside this issue: Welcome Back and message from the Director, new ASUN 1 Tribal Nations Tour, NANAINA symposium, scholarship updates, and new ASUN scholar 2 ASUN graduates– December 2011 3 Past ASUN scholars share their stories 4 Mentoring, NSCED, NANA updates 5 Message from Brenda Morris 6 Photos from Welcome Back and Open House 7 ASUN office/contact information 8 Above: ASUN team at open house with Diane Humetewa. SPRING 2012, Volume 1 , Issue 2 Upcoming Events: 2/14 Valentine’s Day Pizza 2/16 Mentor/Mentee Networking Dinner 2/27 IHS Service Obligation Meeting 3/7 & 4/11 Talking Circle with Rachel Carroll 3/16 St Patrick’s Day prespring break lunch 3/29 Female Sweat– PIMC, facilitated by Rachel Carroll 4/22 12th Annual ASUN Mentoring/Alumni /Current Students Reception 4/25 Reading Day Blessing & Breakfast 5/4 Graduation cake reception 2/27, 3/26, & 4/23 Free lunch by Nancy Moore 2nd NANA meetings PIMC Thurs of conference room every month ASU Tribal Nations High School Tour Candace Hardy, one of our ASUN students attended the Tribal Nations Tour to Whiteriver this past November. The tour was sponsored by the American Indian Student Support Services (AISSS) and the Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families and the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of the tour was to develop American Indian Leaders. As part of the tour a group of ASU students presented and provided information on college readiness, college student experience, college admissions & financial aid, American Indian Student Support Services, academic programs, and empowerment and encouragement. The AISSS hopes to continue the tour throughout Arizona. The tour provides an opportunity for students to meet and hear success stories related to making the choice to go to college, being an American Indian college student, and the different resources and support available to students to help them overcome challenges. Scholarship Information The future depends on what you do today.” ― Mahatma Gandhi “ If you would like more information on the IHS scholarship program, IHS loan repayment program, or the ASUN scholarships, please contact the ASUN office. Application packets for IHS scholarships available in the ASUN office. IHS scholarship deadlines– Continuing applications– Feb 28 New applications: March 28 ASUN scholarship deadline- 3/2/12 BSN for Fall 2012 “I think one's feelings waste themselves in words they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results.” Florence Nightingale Meet our new ASUN scholar Pictured below Desiree Crawford and daughter “Hi, my name is Desiree Crawford and I am full blooded Navajo raised here in Phoenix, Arizona. My mother is from Window Rock, Arizona and my father is from Cove, Arizona. I am 27 years old and a mother of a four year old girl whom is one of my biggest motivators. I served in the United States Army as a Medical laboratory technician and a Health care specialist (combat medic) and served overseas in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 101 st Airborne Division. I did most of my prerequisites at Mesa Community College and this will be my second semester here at Arizona State University. One of my goals is to become a Nurse Practitioner or a Nurse Anesthetist and to serve my fellow American Indian community.”- Desiree Crawford Page 2 Volume 1, Issue 2 Congratulations to our recent BSN graduates: Stephanie Yellowhair, Candace Hardy, & Chelsey Becenti Pictured above from right to left: Candace Hardy, Stephanie Yellowhair, & Chelsey Becenti. Candace Hardy has accepted a position at Gallup Indian Medical Center in the emergency department. Stephanie Yellowhair to the right accepted a job offer with Gallup Indian Medical Center on the medical/surgical floor starting in February. “Being a new grad is exciting, yet nerve racking since there is the NCLEX to study for, finding a job (that hopefully, is one you want and will enjoy), and knowing that you are going to be a nurse, an RN, and not a nursing student anymore. When my parents asked me how I felt after graduation, I said I was scared because I was. It’s not that I did not feel happy or excited to be done with school, it’s the thought that people’s lives are going to be in my hands and it’s all my responsibility. Currently, I am studying for my NCLEX and yes, I am nervous but I feel that if I do my best and have a positive outlook, I will be just fine. As for looking for a RN position, I am currently looking in Arizona and New Mexico for either a medical-surgical or labor and delivery opening. I am very excited to take what I have learned from nursing school and be a ‘real’ nurse. To all the undergrads, good luck, do your best, and never give up. To those in the nursing program, I know what you are going through and I know that it can sometimes be difficult and you want to quit, but I can tell you that it is definitely worth it at the end. Again, good luck and remember to make time to be with friends and family and have fun!” - Chelsey Becenti Volume 1, Issue 2 Page 3 Past ASUN Scholars share their nursing experiences Ya'at'eeh shik'ei, shidine'e, students, family, and friends of ASUN! My name is Dale Todicheeney-Mannes. I am Tótsóhnii (Big Water clan), born for Tachii'nii (Red Running into the Water People clan). My maternal clan is Tábaahá (Edge Water) and paternal clan is Todích'íi'nii (Bitter Water). I am an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. I am originally from Teesto, Arizona which is where my mother and grandmother lived and provided me words of encouragement to become a caring person of healing. Today, my family and I consider Whitecone, Arizona as home. I graduated from ASU in 2001 with my BSN and Gerontology minor degree with the support of the IHS Scholarship program. Prior to attending college, I honorably served in the U.S. Army and helped pay for my education with the G.I. Bill. My IHS service payback provided me the privilege to work for a tribal health care organization in rural North San Diego County as a Nurse Case Manager. This experience as I'm sure other ASU American Indian Nursing alums will agree, has allowed me to identify many of the healthcare challenges and opportunities with Indian Country. My professional work experience and the organization's support fostered my area of interest and have become passionate about the impact Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Hepatitis C Virus (HIV/ HCV) has on American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people, families, and communities. This continued pursuit of improved healthcare services in Indian Country has been my fuel to continue my education. An understanding and appreciation of healthcare and nursing has been through the attainment of an MBA Health Care Management degree from the University of Phoenix-San Diego in 2004 and a Master of Science in Nursing as an Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist from the University of San Diego in 2007. The continued support of the 'Traditional Ways' of my family and professional relationships that I have developed, I come to the realization that my life path is not complete. What I have learned through my 10 years of nursing, is that, to have a 'voice' and make an impact in Indian Country healthcare is through doctoral education. So today, I am a 3rd year Nursing PhD(c) student at the University of San Diego Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science. My dissertation research is entitled: Quality of Life among Hepatitis C American Indians/Alaska Natives in Rural Southern California. What I envision is bringing nursing research regarding American Indians living with HCV to the forefront through developing culturally appropriate interventions and shaping culturally based care to improve quality of life. My hope is that this scholarly work will have important implications for HCV education, research, treatment, health care policy and practice improvements within Indian Country. I am proud and honored to be an alumni of ASU CONHI and ASUN. I wish continued success to past, present, and future ASUN students in their personal, academic, and professional goals. I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am for all of my accomplishments could not have been possible without the support of my family! T'áá íiyisí Ahéhee' shi'ma doo shi'zhe'ii', a'doo' shi'chei doo' shi'masani' Hózhó náhásdlíí'... Hózhó náhásdlíí'... Hózhó náhásdlíí'... Hózhó náhásdlíí'... Meet Naomi A. Aspaas, recipient of the American Indian Students United for Nursing (ASUN) Scholarship. Naomi is a member of the Dine’ (Navajo) Nation from Shiprock, New Mexico. A single parent to her son, Keiron Wolfskill. Her initial exposure to Nursing was serving on active duty in the U.S. Navy where she worked as a Hospital Corpsman gaining basic skills in prevention and treatment of disease and injuries, caring for the sick and injured, rendering emergency medical treatment to sailors and Marines. Through her profound experience in the Navy, she developed a passion for Nursing, which led her to apply to the Professional Nursing Program at Arizona State University. After graduating from ASU with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing, she took a position with the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center and participated in their new graduate program in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. She then transferred to Gila River Health Care Corporation a tribally operated health care system in Sacaton, Arizona serving the Gila River Indian community as a Public Health Nurse. The opportunity to transfer to the Indian Health service was presented and she accepted the position as a Clinical nurse at Salt River Health Clinic. At the time, she also received her commission as a Public Health Service Nurse Officer. Naomi’s future as an IHS nurse appears to be bright, she recently accepted the position as the New National IHS Nurse recruiter at the Indian Health Service Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. In this position she will be the program manager for the Section 112 grant program and work closely with ASUN . Naomi’s advice to Native American Nursing Students… Believe in yourself, you can accomplish any goal you set your mind on. Be disciplined, find the passion that keeps you motivated and create a good support system. Page 4 Volume 1, Issue 2 ASUN Mentoring The ASUN program works in partnership with IHS, NANA, and other community colleges in the Phoenix area to provide academic, professional and personal support for Alaska Native and American Indian (AN/ AI) nursing students at any educational level and Non AN/AI nursing students interested in working in Indian Health Service, Tribal, and Urban facilities. ASUN is always looking for mentors. If you are a nurse and would like to be a mentor for one of our prenursing or nursing students, or if you are a student and would like to have a mentor, please contact LeiLani at Lei-Lani.White@asu.edu. Mentor U a program of AISSS The Nursing Students for Ethnic & Cultural Diversity will be hosting "NSCED Spring Townhall on Nursing Academic Success Stories" on April 9, 2012 from 11am to 1pm.. The event will include a panel of nurses who will share their stories about how they became successful as a nurse, what strategies they used, and recommendations and advice for current students. Please RSVP for this event with LeiLani. The Mentor U program by American Indian Student Support Services (AISSS) provides career mentoring for AI/AN students by uniting them with professional mentors and networking opportunities for students, professionals, community leaders, and organizations. Contact Kevin Russell at Kevin.russell@asu.edu or Michael Begaye at mbegaye@asu.edu for more information. Pictured to the right: Kristi Peshalakai and Lei-Lani White at AISSS Mentor U event in October 2011. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ― Mahatma Gandhi NSCED event NSCED has monthly meetings alternating on the second Monday or Tuesday of every month at the ASUN office. If you would like to become a member, please contact Lei-Lani @ Lei-Lani.White@asu.edu. NANA The Native American Nurses Association (NANA) had their annual Christmas luncheon at Monti’s in Tempe in December. NANA events this semester include a membership drive, scholarships for spring, PIMC pow-wow, and Nurse’s week activities. Contact NANA President Marilyn Yellowman for more information @ Marilyn.Yellowman@ihs.gov. 2012 Meet & Greet Luncheon Please Join the Native American Nurses Association Date: Saturday, March 24, 2011 Time: 11:30 AM Location: Aunt Chilada’s 7330 North Dreamy Draw Drive Phoenix, Arizona 85020 Volume 1, Issue 2 Page 5 Message from the ASUN Principal Investigator Greetings! It is an honor to have the privilege of working with the ASUN project at ASU’s College of Nursing & Health Innovation. Dr. Hrabe who was the Principal Investigator for the ASUN grant retired in August 2011. I was appointed to serve as the Principal Investigator, upon his retirement. Let me take a moment to introduce myself. I have been a R.N. for the past 24 years. I joined the nursing faculty at ASU in 1994. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Arizona. I earned a Doctorate of Education in Higher and Adult Education from Arizona State University. My research areas of interest include academic success, critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and NCLEX success. I’ve worked with ASUN for the past 6 years, as a member of the scholarship committee. My clinical background is in the area of adult health/intensive care nursing. I was drawn to nursing education, when I discovered in my first clinical nursing position that I loved to teach students. That discovery has led me on a lifelong journey to pursue a career in nursing education. I have been very fortunate to teach undergraduate and graduate students over the past 17 years at ASU. For the past 6 years, I’ve served in an administrative capacity overseeing the Baccalaureate Nursing programs, and teaching students enrolled in the Nurse Educator M.S. program or the undergraduate nursing program. The Baccalaureate nursing program is growing. In the next year, we will add three new program concentrations to the undergraduate nursing program. This means that we will offer five unique program concentrations that lead to the BSN by August 2012. We will have two prelicensure program concentrations, the Traditional Clinical Nursing Program (TPCNP) and the Post Baccalaureate Clinical Nursing Program (PBCNP). We will also have three post licensure program concentrations, the RN/BSN (RN/BSN), the Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP), and the Eastern Arizona College Program (EAC). The CEP is a unique program, where students will complete their associate degree coursework at Mesa Community College, while simultaneously enrolled in their baccalaureate nursing coursework through the RN/BSN program at ASU. The EAC program will provide students in the Safford/Thatcher area with the opportunity to enroll in the RN/BSN program and take coursework on the Eastern Arizona campus. Students enrolled in the EAC program may be already licensed Registered Nurses, or they may be students completing their associate degree coursework at Eastern Arizona College. We are very excited to offer these new program concentrations, since they will allow us to meet the needs for baccalaureate prepared nurses by offering innovative new programs that expand access to higher education throughout Arizona. During the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Stephen to learn more about ASUN and to establish goals for the coming years. A major focus for the near future is to plan for the sustainability of ASUN. Toward that end, we will be writing two grants in the coming year. Stephen and Yoma have already begun making preparations for the upcoming grant writing. One of the other goals is to revise the interview process for ASUN scholarship candidates. Thank you for the opportunity to serve ASUN. I look forward to working with the dynamic ASUN team to make 2012 our best year ever! Sincerely, Brenda C. Morris, EdD, MS, RN, CNE Senior Director, Baccalaureate Nursing Programs Arizona State University, College of Nursing & Health Innovation Brenda.morris@asu.edu Page 6 Volume 1, Issue 2 More photos from Welcome Back and Open House Volume 1, Issue 2 Page 7 ASUNProject American Indian Students United for Nursing ASUN Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation 502 East Monroe Street, Suite C250 Phoenix, AZ 85004-4431 Phone: (602) 496-0710 Fax: (602) 496-0705 Email: asun@asu.edu Website: http://nursingandhealth.asu.edu/asun We offer many services such as: computer stations, printing, faxing, copying, quiet room, snacks, and a place to relax and hang out. Office Hours: Downtown Campus (Mercado Suite C-205) Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Tempe Campus (Discovery Hall, 3rd Floor Rm 355) AISSS Satellite Administrative Office Thursday 8:30 am-4pm